Summer is almost here and summer vegetables are beginning to arrive in your local supermarkets, specialty markets and farmer’s markets. Experts recommend consuming 5 servings* a day of fruits and vegetables to help reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. Summer veggies are not only nutritious and delicious, they’ll help you look and feel your best by providing vitamin C, potassium, lutein, folate, iron, fiber, and essential hydration. Try one or more of these summer veggies today:

Arugula

Eggplant

Potatoes

Avocados

Garlic

Shallots

Green Beans

Kohlrabi

Summer Squash

Beans

Mushrooms

Swiss chard

Beets

Okra

Tomatoes

Collards

Onions

Zucchini

Corn

Sugar Snap Peas

Cucumber

Peppers

Try some of these ideas…

Skip the chips which make you thirstier and opt for bright crunchy carrots and celery which are low in calories and fat and high in nutrients that will keep you feeling refreshed.

Add some fresh veggies to your summer salad for a cool light meal packed with nutrients

Load your baked potato or pasta with cooked veggies instead of butter or rich sauces or even toss with light olive oil or add to your favorite light sauces to give you flavor and energy on a hot summer day

* One serving of vegetables is equivalent to ¼ cup dry or one medium sized fresh vegetable such as a carrot or ¾ of a cup of juice or ½ cup cooked or 1 cup raw veggies.

Chef Lala

Whether she’s teaching nutritious cooking at a Farmer’s Market or on a television show, Chef LaLa is on fire with her desire to share everything she has learned to make people’s lives healthier and happier–one meal at a time.